We’re glad you’re here.
The Black Central Americas (BCA) Project is a space created with care, intention, and a deep commitment to the histories, cultures, and everyday lives of Black communities across Central America and its diasporas. From Garinagu and Creole communities to West Indian descendants and Afro-descendant people on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, this platform attends to the lived realities, cultural traditions, and political struggles that have shaped and continue to shape Black life across the isthmus.
This is our very first year, and already we’ve been moved by the response. Since announcing the project, we’ve heard from scholars, students, artists, and community members who share our commitment to centering Black Central America. These conversations have only deepened our belief that this work matters, and that it must be collective.
The isthmus is once again under the glare of global scrutiny, cast as a site of crisis, containment, and geopolitical maneuvering. But this is not new. Throughout Central America’s long history of imperial projects, authoritarian regimes, and forced displacement, Black communities have often been erased from dominant narratives. Even as international attention turns to questions of migration, carcerality, and sovereignty, the voices and experiences of Black Central Americans remain sidelined. This project insists that our histories, struggles, and visions not only belong in the conversation but are essential to understanding the region’s past and reimagining its future.
Our digital map, featured on the home page, is one of the core elements of the BCA Project. It’s a work in progress, and we’re actively expanding it through collaborations with people on the ground in the isthmus and throughout the diaspora. Our goal is to make this map useful not just for researchers, but for communities, classrooms, and anyone interested in learning more about Black life in Central America.
We know that mapping has a long colonial history. It has often been used to divide land, erase presence, and enforce control. Our map moves in a different direction. It is not a fixed representation of territory, but a constellation of sites shaped by memory, movement, and Black place-making. These are not isolated points or mere dots on a map; they are instead connected nodes that reflect how Black Central American communities have created, sustained, and reimagined place—often in ways that stretch beyond national borders and official histories.
Alongside the map, our site includes a growing network of Black Central American thinkers, researchers, artists, and others committed to studying and imagining Black life in the region. You can visit the Network tab to explore short bios and highlights of their research, writing, and artistic practice. We’re excited to spotlight their work, foster collaboration, and continue building connections. You’ll also find Resources, Events, and Blog tabs where we share teaching materials, upcoming programs, and reflections from our team and collaborators. These sections will continue to grow with new contributions from across the isthmus and diaspora.
Additionally, we are honored to feature seven photographs from Tony Gleaton’s powerful series Tengo Casi 500 Años: Africa’s Legacy in Mexico, Central and South America, with a special focus on his time in Central America. These images, shared with the generous support of the Tony Gleaton Photographic Trust, invite us to reflect on Black presence, place, and visual memory across the isthmus. You can view the photos and a short essay about Gleaton's work under our Retrospective tab.
Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to participate in events that align with our mission. For example, on May 20, 2025, BCA co-coordinator Nicole Ramsey will present on a panel she organized about Belizean diasporic place-making in Los Angeles. The panel is part of Archival Futures: The Ephemera of Art, Mobility, and the Isthmus, a day-long event at UCLA that brings together scholars, artists, and archivists to explore the political and poetic dimensions of Central American memory.
Our work would not be possible without the generous support of the Caribbean Digital Scholarship Collective (CDSC) and Georgetown University. We are especially grateful for a micro research grant from the CDSC and funding and research support from Georgetown, which have helped bring this project to life. We’re also thankful for the contributions of our student researchers, including Georgetown University Laidlaw Scholars Allie Schlicht and Fathia Fasasi, who conducted research for several cities featured on our map, including San Miguel, Colón, Panama City, La Ceiba, Livingston, and Limón. A huge thank you goes to Andrew Murray, our web designer, who brought our vision to the screen and made this website possible.
We have so much more planned for 2025 and beyond, and we’d love for you to be part of it. To stay in the loop, submit your email on our homepage to subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram at @bcaproject.
This is just the beginning. Whether you’re a researcher, artist, educator, student, or interested community member, we welcome your ideas, contributions, and collaborations. If you’d like to share resources, join the network, or get involved in any way, please reach out.
With care and gratitude,
Nicole Ramsey and Melanie White
for The BCA Team
BCA is a platform dedicated to amplifying Black Central American history, culture, and scholarship. Through curated content, innovative programming, and collaborative initiatives, we explore the collective memory, cultural and political organizing, and creative place-making practices of Black Central American communities across the isthmus and its diasporas.
